Exercise Is Medicine® Canada

“What if there was one prescription that could prevent and treat dozens of diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity? Would you prescribe it to your patients? Certainly.”

Dr. Bob Sallis, FACSM, founding Task Force Chair of the Exercise is Medicine® initiative, a joint partnership of the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Medical Association.Exercise is Medicine® Canada (EIMC) is a movement to make Canadians healthier. EIMC is based upon abundant evidence that physical activity and exercise reduce the risk of chronic disease and the belief that:

Most Canadians can find simple ways to incorporate physical activity and exercise into their daily routines;

More should be done to address physical activity and exercise in the healthcare setting; physical activity and exercise should be incorporated as a key health indicator and standard of medical care as a ‘vital sign’; and

Certified exercise professionals serve as important resources for Canadians and their healthcare providers.

Exercise is Medicine® is a global initiative! Launched by the American College of Sports Medicine in 2007, EIM now has a presence in several countries around the globe. Visit http://exerciseismedicine.org/worldcongress.htm to learn more about the annual World Congress on Exercise is Medicine® held in conjunction with the ACSM annual conference. The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) is leading the launch of EIM in Canada and will hold annual events at its own annual meeting.

Mission Statement:

To provide national leadership in promoting physical activity as a chronic disease prevention and management strategy to improve the health of Canadians.

Vision:

“Physical activity is an integral part of prevention and treatment of chronic disease in the Canadian health care system”

Goals:

Increase the number of health care professionals who are assessing, prescribing and counseling patients in physical activity;

Increase the number of Canadians meeting the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines and the Canadian Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines; and

Encourage the appropriate use of qualified exercise professionals in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease.

Exercise Prescription & Referral Tool

Based on our belief in the incredible potential of all primary health care providers to improve patient health through exercise, and developed by a multidisciplinary working group, the EIMC Exercise prescription and referral tool includes a prescription pad format on its front and key messages and definitions on the back

Canadian Physical Activity/Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines Handbook

This 32-page booklet shows how patients and their families can plan to be physically active and reduce sedentary behaviour every day using the Canadian Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines. The booklet includes sample logbooks with examples of ways to incorporate physical activity into one’s schedule. Blank logs assist with tracking personal progress!